Automobile lock



HE RSHEY AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed June 26, 1926 v 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1926. v 1,687,836

o. s. HERSHEY AUTOMOBILE 'LopK Filed June 26, vi926 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 I ii Oct. 16, 1928.

O.- S. HERSHEY AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed June 26, 1 926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

. 1,687,836 PATENT- OFFICE.

ORVILLE S. HERSHEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HERSHEY MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, 01 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

AUTOMOBILE Locx.

Application filed June 26,

-This invention relatesto a lock adapted especially for automobiles and isdesigned more particularly for association with one of the operating units thereof. It may be connected with a steering mechanism, a change speed mechanism, a motor ignition circuit, or any other unit or system whose operation is required in the use of the vehicle.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown and described includes a switch which may be interposed in the motor ignition ""circuit. Sucha switch is designed to be opened, thereby rendering the motor inoperative, whenever the lock is operated to interfere with use of an associated mechanism. The resent invention is directed more especia ly toward certain means for controlling the operation of the lock, means by.

which it is operatively connected with the switch, and means by which the switch construction is simplified and improved. It is a primary object of this invention to produce a readily. manipulatable lock mechanism which cannot however be accidentally op-.

erated while the motor is running, with possible disastrous consequences to occupants of the vehicle. My invention is accordingly concerned with a combined lock and switch having the characteristics noted, and also with-other objects and purposes which will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the lock housing with associated switch, in operative relation to an automobile'steering column;

Fig. 2, which is a sectional view through the column taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, shows in elevation the under or rear side of the lock housing, together with a switch which is mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the lock structure taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 1 and 5 are details in transverse section taken, respectively, on line 4.4 and 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the detent. at one end of the operating shaft;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the detent in a released position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the switch,its position being difierent from that which is shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 9 which is a view similar to Fig. 8 shows the switch in still another position;

1926. Serial No. 118,675.

shows a lock mechanism having a' modified form of detent for its operating shaft;

Fig. 11 is a perspective fragmentary view of the detent and associated parts;

Fig. 12 which is a central longitudinal section through a lock mechanism taken on line 12-12 of F ig. 13 shows a switch of modified form' v Fig. 13 is a fra mentary view in elevation looking toward t e rear or under side of certain parts shown in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary elevation lookin toward the detent at one end of the me shaft.

The present lock may be contained within a housing A through which is an opening for accommodating the column B within which is extended a. post C connecting a. steering wheel with the swiveled running wheels, usually at the front of an automobile. Secured fast to the post is acollar D having therein a groove or socket 15 which may be brought into register with an opening 16 formed in the column. The locking mecha nism herein shown includes a bolt 17 adapted to be projected throu h the opening 16 into the socket so as to Took the steering post against rotation. This bolt is associated yieldingly with a hollow plunger 18 wherein is accommodated a coiled spring 19 which tends to project the bolt into locking osition. The forward movement of this olt, relative to the plunger, may be arrested by a stop 20. A second spring 21 exerts an opposite force on the plunger such as to retract the same, whenever conditionswill permit, against a stop 22.

Associated with the plunger is a control means for the locking bolt. As shown, this comprises an operating lever or handle 23 which is extended laterally from a hub 2d (see Fig. 5) which is secured to one end of a hollow rock shaft 25. This shaft has a rotatable bearing through a pair of spaced lugs 26 on the under side of the lock housing. Between the lugs is a disk 27 carried between two plates 28 which are fast on the shaft.

The disk and associated plates extend between the two lugs 26 into a slot 29 which is longitudinally disposedupon the plunger 18. Mounted crosswise of this slot is a roller pin 30 which is disposed within an opening 31in the disk unit so as to receive motion therefrom when the shaft 25 is turned Fig. 10 which is a view similar to Fig. 1 in response to movements of the operating Koo handle. For reasons which will presently appear, I provide an appreciable clearance in the opening 31 around the pin 30 so that movements of the shaft 25 will precede by a definite distance any change in position of the plunger 18.

The lock mechanism thus far described is common to the several structures which are shown in all the figures of the appended drawings. I shall now proceed with a further description first of Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, then of Figs. 10 and 11, and lastly of Figs. 12 to 14. The disk 27 extends radially beyond its supporting plates so that a portion of its surface is exposed. An eyelet 32 is cariicd by the disk, as appears best in Figs. 8 and 9. Associated with this eyelet is a pair of spring brushes 33 formed near their extremities with inwardly facing buttons 34 adapted to seat within opposite ends 01 the eyelet. The two brushes each proceed from a laterally extended base 35 which is mounted upon an insulating block 36 supported on the under side of the lock housing. As by means of binding posts 37 electrical connections to the brushes may readily be established. These brushes,"together with the eyelet which is movablebetween them to complete an electrical circuit, constitute a simple form of switch which is well adapted for the purpose of this invention. Since the disk which carries the eyelet is moved in response to actuation of the shaft 25 which also controls the lock mechanism, means are provided for conjointly operating the lock and switch.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a pin 38 is extended centrally through the shaft 25, being provided at one end with a head 39 whereon is formed a push button 40. The shaft is provided with a chamber which receives a coiled spring 41 adapted to exert an outward pressure on the head such that the pin is normally held in one extreme position. At

.the end of the pin which is opposite the head is a detent which may take the form of a cross bar 42 extending laterally through oppositely disposed slots 43 formed in the ad jacent end of the shaft 25. The cross bar which is at all times confined between these slots is normally seated within other slots 44 which are formed in the adjacent end of the proximate lug 26. With the pin held by the spring 41 in the normal position shown in Fig. 6, the shaft is incapable of movement. If, however the button 40 be pushed in to release the cross bar from the slots 44, the shaft 25 may be rotated without interference. The provision of the means just described is primarily for purposes of safety, whereby to prevent accidental movement of-the rock shaft.

It will he noted that the clearance around the roller pin 30 is such that the rock shaft may be rotated slightly in either direction without transmitting motion to the plunger 18. This enables the operator to move the eyelet 32 away from the brushes 33 in either direction, .without actuating the lock mechanism. In Fig. 8 I have shown the parts To bring the parts to the position shown, it

is necessary merely that the detent 42 be released, followed by a,slight rotation of the handle 23. I

With the present lock'mechanism, I contemplate also the association of; alien-arrogant operated control which, if desired, may take the general form which is shown in my pending application Serial No. 82,867, filed January 21, 1926. Such 'a control which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 includes a detent in the form of a pin 45 which is movable radially -and obliquely toward the plunger 18 to present its acting end within an angular recess 46 therein (see Fig. 3). hen so disposed, the plunger is incapable of movement in either direction. It is necessary-first that the detent bewithdrawn. For this purpose, I provide a cylinder lock 47 operable by a proper key (not shown) so as to m ve an eccentric lug or pin 48. Such a pin cooperates with a spring 49 one end of which'presses the detent pin 45 forwardly. By rotating the cylinder lock, the detent is released, following which the plunger 18 is free for movement throughout its entire stroke. Such a detent mechanism may also be employed with the two forms of locks in Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive.

The advance of the locking bolt 17 is brought about by a movement of the shaft 25 in a direction reverse to that required for moving the switch to-the position of Fig. 8. The relationship of the switch parts indi cated in Fig. 9 is that which obtains when the locking bolt has been moved to advance position. It will be observed in this figure that the switch is also open due to the fact that the eyelet 32 has moved from between the two brushes 33. I would have it noted, however, that the switch movement precedes that of the locking bolt when the latter is moved to an advancedposition, and on the return stroke, after release of the detent, the locking bolt is well on its way toinitial position before the switch is closed. The advantage of this two-stage operation is that the motor is first cut ofi before the steering is disabled, and, conversely, the steering is again restored to operative condition be- Ill) ' one end against the lock housing and with its other end against a flange 53 which extends laterally from one edge of the lever.

' The flange is cut off as at 54 adjacent a shoulder which depends from the hub of the lever. With the lever in the normal position to which it is urged by the spring 52', the flange end 54 is disposed-in the move ment path of the shoulder 55 whereb to prevent any but a limited movement of the handle in the direction necessary to advance the locking bolt. The limited handle movement just mentioned is sufficient to remove the eyelet 32 from between the brushes33 whereby to break the electrical circuit 7 through the switch. This movement may not continue further unless the lever be first swung down against the tension of the spring 52. When depressed sufficiently, the handle may be moved through the necessary distance to effect an advance of the locking bolt.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 14, a slightly modified structure is therein shown. It embodies a control for the locking mechanism including a safety detent 58 which extends laterally in one direction only from the shaft 25. detent are determined by a pair of pins 6Q in lieu of slots as in the construction previously described. Also a single plate 59 may be used in .place of the disk 27 and supporting plates 28, as are found in the construction'of Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 12 and '13 also illustrate a modified type of switch. As shown, it comprises an insulated bushing 61 arranged adjacent the outer end of the plunger 18 and in co-axial relation therewith. This bushing furnishes a mounting for a pair of spring brushes 62 which press inwardly against a conductbr ring 63 titted annularly about an inner bushing 64 which is slidably carried by the plunger 18. A pin 65, which is screw-threaded in the end of the plunger, extends through this latter bushing to present a head 66 in slightly spaced relation to the end thereof,- whereby the bushing has capacity for a limited sliding movement relative .to the plunger. This type of switch which is quite similar to one disclosed in my pending application above referred to may be used to advantage with the lock mechanism herein shown.

. In the use herein of the terms open and closed with reference to the motor ignition .circuit, Lhave in mind the system ofignition most generally employed, but knowing The movement limits of this that magneto equipped motors may be operated on an open circuit, which'is' the reverse of the prevailing kind, I would have these terms properly interpreted to describe the true situation. The various details of construction hereinbefore set forth are manifestly susceptible of embodiment in forms other than the precise ones shown, and any such modifications, in so far as they fall with in the purview of,the claims below, are to be considered as Within the limits of my invention.

I claim: a

1. In a lock, the. combination with an operating member/of a bolt movable into engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, a rotatable shaft connected with the bolt'for advancing the same, a detent for normally preventing movement of the shaft, and release means for the detent extending through the shaft for operation at one end thereof, substantially as described.

2. Ina lock, the combination with an operating member, of a bolt movable into engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, a shaft connected with the bolt for advancing the .same, means at one shaft end interlocked with the shaft and movable to interlock also with the housing whereby to prevent rotation of the shaft, and a spring actuated operating device forsaid interlocking means, substantially as described.

3. In a lock, the combination with an operating member, of a bolt movable into engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, a rock shaft for advancing the bolt, and a detent movable lengthwise of the shaft and adapted in one position to interlock with the housing whereby to prevent'movement of said shaft,'substantially as described.

4'. In a lock, the combination with an ope rating member, of a bolt movable into engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, an operatin shaft for advancing the bolt, an insulated d1sk mounted on the shaft, means connecting the disk and bolt'wherebymovements of the shaft are transmitted to the bolt, 2. pair of spring brushes bearing against opposite sides of the disk, and conductor means carried by the disk adapted for movement between the brushes when the shaft is in a selected rotative position whereby to complete an electrical circuit between the brushes, substantially as described.

. 5.;In a lock, the combination with-an operating'member, of a bolt movable into engagement with said'member to oppose operation thereof, an operating'shaft, an insulated disk carriedby the shaft, a pair of spring brushes associated with the disk and forming part of an electrical circuit, and

conductor means carried by the disk and adapted to be movedbetween the brushes to complete a circuit therethrough when ,the

shaft is in a selected rotative position, substantially as described.

6. In a lock, the combination with an operating member, of abolt movable into'engagement with said member to oppose operationthereof, an operating shaft for the bolt, there being a predetermined slip in the connection between the shaft and bolt wheres by the former may advancethrough a limited distance before transmitting motion to the bolt, an insulated disk carried by the shaft, a .pair of brushes associated with the disk and forming'part of an electrical operatingamember, of a" bolt movable into' engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, a plunger yieldingly connected with the boltto impart movement thereto, an operating shaft, a disk carried by the shaft having a loose connection with tie plunger such that movements of the shaft precede those of the plunger, and a.

switch associated with the disk adapted to be opened or closed in response to movements thereof, substantially as described.

8. ,In a lock, the combination with an operating member, of a bolt movable into engagement with said member to oppose operation thereof, a plunger yieldingly associated with the bolt and adapted to impart movement thereto, an operating shaft, an in- 'sulateddisk carried by the shaft, a loose connection between the disk and plunger such that movements of the shaft precede those of the plunger, and a switchcomprising'a pair of brushes forming part of an electrical circuit bearing against opposite sides of the disk, and conductor means carried by the disk adapted to enter between thebrushes whereby to close the circuit therethrough, substantially as described.

oRv LLE s. HERSHEY. 

